Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-02-03
kAOW TAE WORK WAS DOME
0oestton RAaseA About the Prepare
SsO0 o. the Tax DO0ks-Whas A. said al
the Dfstrics DuilAkngs.

1ae New York zsiossne Of to-day publishes dis.
paUch from Washington, alleging an irregular
transaction on the part OF the District authorities
ana Mr.. Ros. A. Fish, assistant register OF the
treasury, In the work OF preparing the numerical
ana general assessment books after the tr1ennial
assessment was completed last spring. The
auegsuon IL that the contract to prepare
these books was given to W. 7. Walker for a 200
anu IL Is intimated that Mr.. Fish was the real
contractor. The assertion is made that work was
oone Dy the clerks OF the assessors Office during
sne onice hours and the question Is asked whether
any omcer OF the District government shared the
pronts OF the transactton.
Commissioner webb, when shown this publica.
mixture Of truth and fiction" When the 'S as :.
sessment was made he said IT was necessary that
sne BOOKS Tor the use OF the collectors once should
e rapidly as possible, SO that COLLECTIONS
could be made under the new assessment. 10 &C.
SomRnsn this II was necessary that experts
was special appropriation made by Congress for
the work. The work had to be done at night, be.
cause the Old books from which the new
y the public in The S sellector n ot nce
during the day. When the assessment preceding
o9'S one was made the clerks in the assessors
sne accounting Officers at the Treasury would not
permit the District government to give them any
s,oners at that time went tue to- ConTr r.s.
and Congress voted an AUGMENTATION fo
pay these clerks for their extra labor Last March
the appropriation made the work was given out
as whole to Mr.. Walker. The Commissioners
mao nothing to DO With whom he employed. The
clerks could work for him after once hours IL
they chose. "Idont know" said Mr. Webb,
s wnetae d ne MADE anything out OF it not; am
Mr.. Dodge, the assessor OF the District. said thar
u was almost absolutely necessary that clerks IA
m H Win the work or the Office should be en-
gage9 on the compilation OF this work. Mir. Fish
mao Deen In that Office for a long time and his
services were valuable. He did not think there
was az anything TO prevent clerks or Others
aer sne usaais o SHas s sSsn ws5s
ended The a, 200, he said, was divided among
a Twelve or more men, giving them $500 or $500
much out OF It. The gentlemen employed were
paid Tor their services by the hour
Dir. Frank Wilson, OF the assessors ofrice one of
Tue nen on The work. SAID that he had TO
Work TOUR or nye hours a night. There were at
Inherent times he said, more than twelve men
employed on the work. Whatever money Mr. FIsh
adopted or having work taken by Mr.. walker INNS
simply 10 avoid the delay, which had occurred be-
lore In paying the clerks engaged on the work for
work or the Office, out work for which Consrsss
provided special appropriation.
WHAT Mr.. FISH SAYS
Assistant Register Fish, OF the Treasury was
asked by STAR reporter to-day about the matter.
and replied that the contract was given 10 Walker
with Commissioner Webb's consent, and that he
H1Sn) who was at lie time assistant register
worked at night with other clerks at the
Ulstr1ct Office and received the pay
for that extra work. which might
not have been allowed otherwise. He received
three or four hundred dollars for his work he
WOuldnI De allowed extra pay for extra
work In the Treasury department but
there was nothing TO prevent his obtaining work
and pay elsewhere. The work required was of n
working hours.